The top trotters in the sport invaded Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont. on Friday night with hopes of earning a spot in the 63rd edition of the Maple Leaf Trot. Tonight's two $40,000 eliminations narrowed the field for next weekend's $603,000 final down to 10 with Sebastian K and Market Share leading the way.

The overwhelming 1-9 favourite with his five inside starters sent off at odds in the double digits of 21-1 or higher, world champion Sebastian K cruised to a 1:52.2 victory while making his Canadian debut in the first elimination for trainer/driver Ake Svandstedt.

Knutsson Trotting's European-bred trotter now boasts a perfect five-for-five record as an eight-year-old in his North American campaign.

Svanstedt left with Sebastian K from the outside post six to take the lead into a :26.4 opening quarter over Archangel (Sylvain Filion) and Creatine (Mike Lachance). Taking a second quarter breather, the Swedish stars led the single-file field to the half in :57. Wheeling N Dealin (Jody Jamieson) tipped to the outside from fourth into the turn, but stalled on the outside. Archangel then took his shot, pulling from the two-hole near the 1:25.3 third quarter mark, but Sebastian K drew clear of that rival into the stretch and trotted away to win by four lengths.

"He did it very easy," said Svanstedt after the race. "That's good for him that he raced, he is very tight now. It's a good that he is racing."

Also advancing to the Maple Leaf Trot final, finishing second through fifth, are Creatine, Archangel, Wishing Stone (Randy Waples) and O'Brien Award winner Flanagan Memory (Chris Christoforou).

Defending Maple Leaf Trot champion Market Share and driver Tim Tetrick advanced first over to win the second elimination in 1:53 for trainer Linda Toscano.

Favourite Modern Family (James MacDonald) was the first to get a call leaving from post three, but just to his outside was Dws Ny Yank (Randy Waples), who worked his way to the top before the :27.1 first quarter mark. Modern Family retook the lead before Intimidate (Sylvain Filion) brushed by from third and cleared to command during the second panel.

Intimidate reached the half in :56.2 while Tetrick sent 8-5 second choice Market Share on the attack from fourth and moved up to challenge the leader as they raced by the third quarter mark in 1:26. Market Share took over into the stretch and drew clear by two lengths with a :26.4 final frame for the victory.

The 2012 Maple Leaf Trot champion and last year's runner-up, Mister Herbie (Steve Condren), followed Market Share's cover to place while Undercover Strike (Doug McNair) closed from last to show. Modern Family was fourth with Intimidate earning the final spot in the Maple Leaf Trot via his fifth-place finish.

"I really didn't want to be first up again, but it turned out real well and he was real brave when he crossed over," said Toscano in a post-race interview. "I was tickled with him."

The triple millionaire won the Maple Leaf Trot last year in 1:51.1 with no eliminations necessary. With the world's fastest trotter, Sebastian K, in the mix this time around, Toscano noted that "you have to be strategically placed if you're going to try to beat him.

"This is one of the deepest fields of trotter I think we've seen in a long time," she said. "They're all good and the other horse is just absolutely a freak at this point."

Market Share is now three-for-seven during his five-year-old season. The son of Revenue S out of Classical Flirt is owned by Richard Gutnick of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, T L P Stable of Kearny, New Jersey and William Augustine of Hammonton, New Jersey.

The top five finishers from each elimination advance to the coveted final on Saturday, July 19 at Mohawk. The connections of the elimination winners were able to select their post positions, which are listed below.

$603,000 Maple Leaf Trot
1. Sebastian K
2. Market Share
3. Intimidate
4. Archangel
5. Wishing Stone
6. Mister Herbie
7. Creatine
8. Undercover Strike
9. Flanagan Memory
10. Modern Family
AE1. Wheeling N Dealin

Click on the following links for recaps and replays of tonight's Canadian Breeders Championship eliminations for three-year-old trotters and Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.